Car Sport 2011: Mitsubishi Concepts

Showing posts with label Mitsubishi Concepts. Show all posts

11/12/09

Mitsubishi Small Crossover: Official Designs Show the Less Exciting Nature of the Production Model

Remember how promising Mitsubishi's all-new small crossover looked in the teaser sketch that was released back in October? Well, if these official designs are of any indication, then the reality is that the as-yet unnamed crossover won't be as near as exciting as Mitsubishi wanted us to believe. On the other hand, the production model does retain most of the styling cues featured on the 2007 Mitsubishi cX concept, on which it is based, with most changes concerning the rear end of the car that appears to have grown in length.

Leaving the styling aside, Mitsubishi's baby crossover uses the Japanese firm's mid-size global platform, which also forms the basis the Lancer and Outlander. However, the new model will be smaller than the Outlander and will compete, at least in Europe, against Nissan's forthcoming Quazana crossover.

Power will come from four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines including Mitsubishi's new 1.8-liter turbocharged that made 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of peak torque in the 2007 cX concept.

The new crossover is scheduled to go on sale in Japan next February, and in Europe and other markets, in the summer of 2010.

Mitsubishi Teases Baby Crossover Model, Sales Start from February 2010

This is an official sketch of Mitsubishi's new compact crossover model that will go on sale first in Japan in February 2010 with Europe and other markets following in the summer of the same year. It is derived from the Concept-cX show car that was revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany and it is based on Mitsubishi's mid-size global platform that also underpins the Outlander and Lancer models.

The concept measured 4.1m (161.4-in.) in length, 1.75m in width and 1.55m in height with a 2.52m long wheelbase, but the production model is believed to slightly grow in size.

The small crossover model, which will compete head on with Nissan's forthcoming production version of the Qazana, will be the firm's first model to receive Mitsubishi's new 1.8-liter diesel engine with a variable geometry (VG) turbocharger that delivered 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of peak torque in the concept. It will most likely be offered in two- and four-wheel drive variants.

The European premiere of the model will take place at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next March. It remains to be seen if the small crossover will also make its way across the Atlantic.

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2007 Mitsubishi Concept cX

Tokyo '09: Mitsubishi PX-MiEV Plug-in Hybrid SUV Concept gets 118mpg

Highlighting Mitsubishi's efforts to catch up to its domestic rivals in hybrid technology at this year's Tokyo Show is the PX-MiEV, a compact sized four-wheel drive crossover fitted with a 1.6-liter petrol engine and two electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear. At low to medium speeds the PX-MiEV can rely on the front and if necessary, the rear electric motor also to motivate the vehicle. At higher speeds the gasoline engine, which is also used to generate electricity for the electric motors, kicks in to help power the crossover.

The PC-MiEV is equipped with battery pack that can be replenished through regenerative breaking, the gasoline engine, a regular household plug or a high-power quick-charging station. In electric-only mode, the PX-MiEV has a range of 30 miles or about 50km.

The Japanese firm said that the PX-MiEV is good for 117.6mpg US which come to around 2.0 lt/100km or 141mpg UK.

All Photos Shot by our Tokyo Motor Show man Phil Alex

VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 and Honda CR-Z Coupes and other 2009 Tokyo Show Cars Filmed in the Flesh

This year's Tokyo Motor Show that runs for the public from October 24 to November 4, 2009 may be a shadow of its former self as aside from the domestic automakers, Lotus and Alpina are the only foreign brands that will be present at the event, but still, the show will play host to some very significant debuts including the hotly-anticipated Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive 2+2 and Honda CR-Z Hybrid near-production coupe concepts.

The video below includes live footage of both coupes as well as from the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV SUV Concept, Mazda Kiyora Concept (Japanese Premiere) and the production Nissan Leaf, that were filmed by the folks over at Japan's Motor Magazine during what appears to be a special pre-show event.

Mitsubishi says yes to U.S. market launch of all-electric i MiEV RWD microcar

Ending the speculative rumors that had been circulating for quite a while now, Mitsubishi officially confirmed at its New York Auto Show press conference that the fully-electric i MiEV microcar will be arriving on U.S. shores. The pure electric, four-passenger i MiEV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan this July with Europe following suit in 2010 and the U.S. shortly after that. The tiny i MiEV, which is slightly smaller than a Fiat 500 measuring 3.395mm or 133.6-in. in length, is based on the Japanese market, rear-engined 'i' minicar.

The electric version replaces the i's conventional gasoline engine, transmission and fuel tank with a lithium-ion battery system, electric motor and onboard charging system. However, it retains the standard i's rear mid-ship architecture which allowed Mitsubishi to integrate the new components under the seats, luggage compartment and floor deck.

The i MiEV's battery pack can be charged either from an 110v outlet - which takes around 12 to 14 hours - or half that time on a 220v. Additionally, there is a fast charge connector that allows the battery to reach 80 percent of capacity in just 30 minutes.

We're not aware of the exact specifications of the U.S. market model, but it is most likely that the vehicle will undergo certain changes to 'fit' (feel free to share your thoughts on this one...) the needs of the American market.

Mitsubishi Outlander GT Shows its EVO-Inspired Fascia in New York

Pride and joy of Mitsubishi's stand at the New York Auto Show is the new Outlander GT Prototype which essentially provides us with the first look of the stylistic updates that the Japanese firm is readying for its compact crossover. And by this we basically mean the Lancer EVO cloned inspired front end design that gives the Outlander a much more aggressive appearance than the current model.

Aside from the EVO's signature 'Jet Fighter' grille and the reshaped Bi-Xenon headlamps, the Outlander Prototype also sports several other new design elements, such as a reshaped front bumper, side mirrors, fenders and hood, a new rear bumper and side sills, plus a new polished finish on the aluminum roof panel.

Complementing the exterior changes, the GT's cabin has been refreshed with the addition of grained synthetic leather with contrasting double stitching, new chrome accents plus a few EVO-inspired design cues like the aluminum sport pedals and the new three-spoke steering wheel.

The New York Show Outlander GT prototype also features a series of upgrades under the hood with the 3.0-liter V6 engine benefiting from improvements that include a reduction in intake restriction plus optimized camshaft timing and compression ratio. The changes result to a 10 horsepower bump for a total of 230HP while Mitsubishi claims that the V6's torque curve has also been improved. The prototype model features an upgraded shifting program and Idle Neutral Logic for the automatic transmission.

However, the most significant change concerns the adoption of the Lancer EVO X's 'Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system that uses an active front limited-slip differential and an electronically contorlled 4WD coupling for improved handling, traction and stability. Furthermore, Mitshubishi has upgraded the Outlander with shorter and stiffer suspension, larger Brembo brakes and a set of 19-inch O.Z. racing wheels.